U.S. official: Two-state solution reduces Iran threat

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Working toward a two-state solution can reduce the existential threat of Iran, an Obama administration official said.

"We understand Israel’s preoccupation with Iran as an existential threat. We agree with that," National Security Adviser James Jones said Sunday morning on ABC’s "This Week with George Stephanopoulos." "And by the same token, there are a lot of things that you can do to diminish that existential threat by working hard towards achieving a two-state solution. This is a very strategic issue."

Jones said the Iranian nuclear program would be a major topic of discussion with the Israeli delegation, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, when it arrives in Washington on May 18.

Jones said there are "many expectations around the world, in the Arab world and in the European community, that we are at a moment where we can make progress with regard to the Middle East. It’s going to take American leadership and American involvement, and I think the signal is going to be that at all levels of our government we’re going to do everything we can to encourage this longstanding problem to gradually come to — show clear progress."